Family values from Virginia's First Lady

Virginia's First Lady Anne Holton was in Norfolk this week, talking with young adults in the Commonwealth's foster care system about their experiences. The Virginian Pilot featured the story and quoted Holton:

"We're in listening mode for the next six months," she told the group at the Norfolk Workforce Development Center.

The listening tour is the first phase of a campaign called "For Keeps," focused on improving the lives of teens within the foster system. Holton ultimately plans to incorporate the suggestions and experiences of the young people into strategies for legislative and funding improvement at the state and local level as well as for partening with private organizations, according to the Virginian Pilot and the First Lady's webpage for the For Keeps initiative.

Holton is well-positioned to head up the campaign, having served as a juvenile court judge before stepping down once her husband was elected governor. In addition to being an exceptionally worthwhile initiative, Holton's work with For Keeps represents an appealing model for progressive family values- emphasizing the importance of family to children without falsely constricting the definition of family, and empowering the individuals targeted by social policy.